Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has broken his silence after he and his Democratic presidential running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris, went down in historic defeat at the hands of now-President-elect Donald Trump.

In a statement posted Wednesday after Harris conceded the election to President-elect Trump, Walz thanked the vice president for choosing him.

“Thank you Vice President @KamalaHarris for putting your faith in me, and selecting me as your running mate,” he said in posts online. “Campaigning at your side was the honor and privilege of my life.”

Walz acknowledged that the outcome of the presidential election was not what he and Harris had hoped for, but he expressed gratitude for the millions of Americans who supported them.

“While the outcome is not what we wanted, I am grateful to the millions of Americans who joined our campaign and stood up for our greatest ideals: decency, compassion, and love of our neighbor,” Walz said. “Now more than ever, we need you to continue fighting for those values and the country we all love.”